arms and came close to
her.

"For my worldly possessions, mother, you have a care," he said
reprovingly. "But for the best and dearest I possess you have neither
word nor glance. Have you really only come to say you will return to
Burgsdorf?"

Frau von Eschenhagen's lips trembled; she could retain her forced
composure no longer.

"I came to see my only son once more before he went to the war, perhaps
to meet his death," she said with painful bitterness. "I had to learn
from others that he was come to take leave of his future wife, but not
to take leave of his mother, and that--that I could not endure."

"We were coming!" cried the young heir, excitedly. "We were coming
before we left here to make one last attempt to win your heart. See,
mother, here is my love, my Marietta--she waits for a friendly word from
you."

Regine gave a long look at the lovers, and a pained expression passed
over her face as she saw her son draw Marietta's head down on his
breast, while the girl's happy, blushing face spoke of trust and love
never to be shaken. Motherly jealousy had a last, sharp struggle against
her better nature, and then, conquered by love and justice, disappeared
forever. Frau von Eschenhagen stretched out her hand to the young
maiden.

"I have grieved you sorely, Marietta," she said half aloud, "and have
done you great injustice, but you have repaid me by taking my boy from
me, my boy, who loved no one but his mother until he met you, and now
loves none but you. I believe that makes us quits."

"O, Will loves his mother as much as ever," cried Marietta eagerly. "I
know only too well how much this separation has cost him."

"Well, there, we will have to endure one another on his account," Regine
responded, with an attempt at joking which was far from successful. "We
will both be anxious enough about him in the days to come, when he is in
the field--ah," with a deep sigh, "there'll be sorrow and care enough
then. What do you say, child? I believe we'll bear it better together."

She held out both arms, and in the next moment Marietta lay sobbing upon
her breast. There were tears in the mother's eyes, too, as she leaned
over to kiss her future daughter. Then she said in her natural sturdy
tone:

"Do not weep. Keep your head in the air, Marietta. A soldier's
sweetheart must be brave, remember that."

"A soldier's wife," corrected Willibald, as his face grew bright. "She
is to be a soldier's wife before I march."